Of all the paperwork an expat family postpones in the UAE, this is the one with the highest cost of delay. DIFC Wills give non-Muslims a way to say, in a form the courts here will act on, who inherits their UAE assets and who looks after their children. Here is how the system works, and — just as important — what it does not do.
What the service is
The service is now formally the DIFC Courts Wills Service, and was formerly known as the DIFC Wills and Probate Registry. DIFC Courts describe it as a joint initiative of the Government of Dubai and the DIFC Courts, giving non-Muslims investing and living in the UAE the option to pass on their assets and appoint guardians for their children in accordance with the instructions in their will.
It was established by Resolution No. 4 of 2014, and its authority was re-affirmed by Dubai Law No. 15 of 2017.
Who can use it
The eligibility test has two limbs, and the second one surprises people. The requirement is that you are not Muslim and have never been a Muslim — not simply that you are not Muslim now.
Residency is not required. In the service’s own words, you do not need to be a resident of the UAE to register a DIFC Courts will. That makes it available to overseas owners of UAE property as well as to residents.
The types of will
| Will type | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Full Will | Movable and immovable property in the UAE, plus interim and permanent guardians for minor children |
| Property Will | Up to five real estate properties, or a share in up to five, situated in the UAE |
| Business Owners Will | Up to five shareholdings within the UAE |
| Financial Assets Will | Up to ten bank and/or brokerage accounts |
| Guardianship Will | Appointment of guardians of minor children only |
| Digital Assets Will | Digital assets held through a DIFC Courts non-custodial wallet |
The Digital Assets Will is the newest, launched at GITEX Global in 2024 — a reminder that estate planning has had to catch up with how people now hold value. Supported assets listed by the service include ETH, BTC, Matic, USDC, USDT and Hedera tokens.
The detail most guides get backwards
This is the single most important paragraph here. DIFC wills are often described as covering only Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah. For assets, that is out of date — coverage is UAE-wide, and a Full Will may extend further.
But the guardianship limb is still restricted: the appointment of guardians applies to minor children residing in the Emirates of Dubai or Ras Al Khaimah. A family living in Abu Dhabi or Sharjah should take advice on how guardianship is handled in their emirate rather than assume a DIFC will settles it.
Registering one
Registration is no longer a day out. All DIFC Courts wills can be registered and modified online by video conference call, and wills registered in person are also completed through electronic signing. Appointments take roughly twenty minutes.
On cost, we will state only what the service itself publishes: a Property Will is AED 7,500 for a single will and AED 10,000 for mirror wills; a Digital Assets Will is AED 5,000 single and AED 7,500 mirror; modifying a will is AED 550; and a Grant of Probate is USD 1,500. Registration fees are not subject to the 5% VAT. Other will types carry their own fees — check the current schedule with DIFC Courts directly rather than relying on figures circulating in guides.
There is also an age requirement for the testator. The published rules and the service’s own guidance have not been consistent on the threshold, so confirm it with DIFC Courts before you book — it is a five-minute question with an expensive wrong answer.
What a DIFC will will not do
A Full Will may extend beyond the UAE, but the service is explicit that enforcement in foreign jurisdictions is not guaranteed. If you hold assets in your home country, you probably need a will there too, drafted so the two do not contradict each other.
Separately, the federal picture has moved. Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2022 on Civil Personal Status applies to non-Muslims and covers marriage, divorce, inheritance and child custody, with non-Muslim residents able to follow the laws of their home country or select alternative personal status laws in effect in the UAE. How that federal regime interacts with the DIFC register is not something any official source spells out — it is a question for a lawyer, not an article.
Where this sits in your paperwork
A will belongs with the rest of the administrative base a resident family needs: a current Emirates ID, the right residence visa, and — for property owners — a clear understanding of what owning a Dubai property costs annually. If your UAE assets include real estate, the Property Will exists precisely because that is the asset families most often get stuck on. Owners weighing the wider position may also want our guide to buying versus renting in Dubai.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Primary sources: DIFC Courts Wills FAQ, DIFC Courts Wills Service, DIFC Wills rules and directions and the UAE Government portal on personal status for non-Muslims.
